COOPER CITY REELS OVER ANNEXATION SURPRISE

All the way out to U.S. 27 this city would stretch as it annexed land that could be used to bring more commercial and industrial development into what is now primarily a bedroom community. More commercial development was viewed as a way to balance the tax base so the tax collector didn't rely too heavily on the pocketbooks of homeowners.

Then came a startling slap. The town of Davie jumped across the C-11 canal to Griffin Road last week and annexed about 850 acres of land that Cooper City wanted.

If annexation were like a game of checkers, Cooper City could jump over that Davie tract to continue westward. But annexation doesn't work that way. A city must be connected to the land it's going to annex and Davie's acquisition of the so-called Ivanhoe tract effectively blocked Cooper City's way.

Cooper City officials say they are not sure whether they will accept the situation or challenge it, possibly in court.

"We are still in discussion with our attorneys," City Manager Chris Farrell said on Friday.

Davie officials maintain that the developers of the Ivanhoe tract voluntarily sought annexation into Davie.

"We always thought we had a nice neighbor," said Cooper City Councilman Tom Murphins, "And the natural boundary of the C-11 Canal made a good fence. Fences make good neighbors. Davie saw fit to cross the bridge.

"I feel bad it happened. I do believe there will be a strain on the two cities. I don't think we'll ever have the same trust. I don't think we'll be as naive. The image is still of Davie as a sleepy western town. Davie is no more a sleepy little town than the moon is made of green cheese."

Cooper City, with a population about 15,000, currently consists of 3,476 acres, but there are are only about 40 acres of commercial development.

City planners are busy planning a land-use plan change that would allow another 45 acres to be designated for commercial development.

In a report being prepared by city officials, the justification for the proposed land-use plan amendments was explained as follows:

"According to recognized planning standards, Cooper City has less than one- half of the necessary commercial areas designated within its boundaries to service its projected residential population. Therefore, the City Council has recognized that in order to prevent future substantial tax increases, it is necessary to increase the tax base by designating this site totaling 45 acres for commerical land use."

Cooper City officials have taken a more aggressive stance on annexation over the past few years, and Davie's move, some officials say, may have a further impact on this city's annexation strategy.

"I guess in the past, Cooper City was a little too conservative as to what was going on around them," said Murphins.

"They were a little bit naive when Miramar, Davie, Pembroke Pines and Sunrise, all the western cities, were looking to the west to annex that land. Cooper City was kind of short-sighted and didn't look beyond the nice little bedroom community that it had."

But all the attention paid to making a good bedroom community has been worth it, Murphins and other officials say.

"It's a bedroom community. I feel the people basically want it to stay that way," said Councilman Bob Webster. "My feeling from the people is that they don't want a large commercial area. They feel we need the services that are needed by the people. But to go out and actually get office parks and all that stuff, my feeling is I don't want it and I fon't feel the majority of the people in this city want it."

Most city officials are expressing disappointment over the Ivanhoe annexation, but refuse to give up entirely.

"It's certainly a blow, but it's not the end of the world. I think Cooper City can exist very handsomely in its present state," said Councilman Dick Sharpe. "I think there will be other areas Cooper City can annex that will bring in some income for us."

Planners are quick to point out that Cooper City has, just within the past few years, annexed about 1,000 acres into the city. Action moved more swiftly after the city hired an administrator and, about four years ago, acquired its water system, Sharpe said.

Cooper City may have to overcome an image problem, Councilman Ron Aranow said.

"We would like to get rid of the image that Cooper City is anti-business," Aranow said at a joint workshop between the City Council and the Davie/Cooper City Chamber of Commerce.

"Unfortunately, it's an old theme that seems to have existed for quite a while. It's felt by all of us that there's a feeling in the eyes in the public that Cooper City is anti-business. It may be the restrictiveness of our ordinances."

But the philosophy behind that restrictiveness is also what may keep it intact.

"We do these things for a reason," Aranow said. "Not to discourage businesses from coming in, but to keep the city as nice looking as it is now."